Watauga County Obituaries – Compiled Aug. 29, 2012

Published Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at 4:04 pm

Watauga County Obituaries – Compiled Aug. 29, 2012

Mary Reece

Mary Reece, D. Aug. 28, 2012Mrs. Mary Miller Reece, age 84, of Old US Highway 421, Zionville, passed away Tuesday morning, August 28, 2012 at home. Born July 8, 1928 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of the late Alfred Luther and Minnie Johnson Miller. Mrs. Reece was a retired LPN and had worked for Watauga Medical Center and Dr. Len Hagaman. Mary was a member of the Trade United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her children; Curtis Gene Reece and wife Laurie of Mountain City, Evelyn Phillips of Morganton, and Tony Reece of Zionville, five grandchildren; Anna Reece, Lydia Reece, Mary Leah Reece, Amy Stewart and Samantha Reece, two great grandchildren; Austin and Madison Stewart, one brother; Earl Miller and wife Lucille of Zionville, one sister in law; Mabel Miller of Mountain City, and one brother in law Bill Oliver and wife Jean.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Earl Reece, two brothers; A. L. Miller, Jr., and Max Miller.

Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Miller Reece will be conducted Friday morning at 11 o’clock at the Trade United Methodist Church. The body will lie in state at the church from 10 until 11 o’clock. Officiating will be Rev. Carl Johnson. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Trade United Methodist Church Cemetery, 128 N. Church Street, Mountain City, TN 37683.

The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6 o’clock until 7:30 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.

Mildred Cornett, D. Aug. 28, 2012Mildred Stevens Cornett, 89, of Roby Cornett Rd., Vilas, passed peacefully Tuesday, August 28, 2012, at Abbot’s Creek Care and Rehabilitation Center in Lexington. Born August 27, 1923 in Todd, she was a daughter of Wesley Olen and Mammie Pennell Stevens. Mrs. Cornett was a member of Mountain Dale Baptist Church. She enjoyed planting and tending her garden, berry picking, and canning her fruits and vegetables.

Mrs. Cornett is survived by three children, Gail Beasley of Lexington, Dale Cornett and wife, Brenda, of Boone, and Dean Cornett of Vilas; five grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren; sister, Naomi Isaacs and husband, Earl, of Vilas; and two brothers, Irvin Stevens and wife, Sylvia, and Wesley Stevens and wife, Johnsie, all of Zionville.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, Orville Homer and Delmar Ray Cornett; and two sisters, Artruda Wagner and Virginia Lewis.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday, August 31, 2012, at 3 PM, at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Rev. Nathan Ward. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. Burial will follow in the Mountain Dale Baptist Church Cemetery.

Flowers are appreciated or memorial donations may be made to the family.

She is survived by one son Shawn Vestey Jr. of Boone, NC two daughters Calimae and Lilah Vestey, her mother Rose Mary Piscopo of Hernando, FL. One brother Nicholas Piscopo of Hernando, Fl., two sisters: Dominique Piscopo of Wilmington, NC and Kelly Kinnaird of Phoenix, Arizona, and by best friend Shawn Vestey of Boone, NC.

She was preceeded in death by her father Isidore Piscopo and her daughters Kirstin and Lillyanna Piscopo. Memorial services for Ms. Chrystalyn Marie Piscopo will be conducted Saturday evening September 1, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel.

Mr. Wilson was born March 26, 1941 in Watauga County, a son of the late Baxter and Lily W. Wilson. He was a retired carpenter and a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Mr. Wilson served in the United States Army during Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Desert Shield. He was Guardsman Of The Year in 1984.

Mr. Wilson is survived by his wife, Bernice Pope Wilson of the home; one daughter, Christie Wilson Ward of Zionville; one granddaughter, Candace Ward Presnell and husband J.D. of Banner Elk; one grandson, Daniel Clayton Ward of Vilas; one great-granddaughter, Maddie Presnell of Banner Elk; one great-grandson, Jason Presnell of Banner Elk; three brothers, Burl Wilson and wife Bertha, and Jerry Wilson, all of Zionville, and Estel “Snook” Wilson and wife Etta of Lynchburg, Virginia; three sisters, Pearl Fletcher of Zionville, Emma Jean Blackburn and husband Bill of Boone, and Anna Bell Wilson and husband Asa of Zionville, and one sister-in-law, Wanda Wilson of Trade, Tennessee. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Iva Lee Wilson Reese, Edith Wilson, and Edna Wilson Tester, and three brothers, Henry, Jim, and J.B. Wilson.

Private graveside services and burial for Mr. Clayton Wilson will be conducted Monday evening, August 27, 2012, at 7:00 o’clock, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. Officiating will be Reverend Steve Leashomb.

Open casket, for family and friends, will be held Monday afternoon, from 1:00 until 5:00 PM, at Hampton Funeral Service.

Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, in care of Renee Beach, 351 Burl Lawrence Road, Vilas, North Carolina, 28692.

Pearl Price, D. Aug. 24, 2012Mattie Pearl Lawrence ‘Sissy’ Price, 76, of Tater Hill Road, Zionville, passed away Friday August 24, 2012, surrounded by her loving family, at Watauga Medical Center. Born April 12, 1936 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of Albert Jack and Essie Faye Smith Lawrence. Mrs. Price was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. She retired from the housekeeping department at Mountain Care Rest Home.

To her family ‘Sissy’ was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and special friend to everyone who knew her.

She is survived by three daughters, Sandra Kay Perry and husband Allen, of Vilas, Greta Tester and husband, Doug, of Zionville, and Janice Smith and husband, Robbie, of Deep Gap; two granddaughters, Amanda Smith and Debra Rich and husband, Joe, all of Boone; three grandsons, Alan Tester and wife, Andrea, of Zionville, David Smith of Boone, and Todd Perry of Vilas; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Jeanelle Hayes and husband, Baxter, of Vilas, and Kathy Ellison, of Zionville; brother, Pat ‘Chub’ Lawrence and wife, Betty Jo, of Zionville; and two sisters-in-law, Carolyn Lawrence of Zionville, and Emily Lawrence of Cleveland, Ohio. A number of nieces and nephews also survive.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hoover Price; parents, Jack and Faye Lawrence; three brothers, Johnny, Charles and David Lawrence; and sister Geneva Mitchell.

The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 6 until 8 o’clock at Austin & Barnes. At other times, the family will be at the Price residence.

Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, in care of Renee Beach, 351 Burl Lawrence Rd., Vilas, NC 28692. Online condolences may be sent to the Price family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Price family.

June Pope

June Pope, D. Aug. 24, 2012Ms. June Yates Pope, age 62, of Charlie Thompson Road, Vilas, passed away Friday night, August 24, 2012 at home. Born April 9, 1950 in Ashe County, she was a daughter of the late Thomas Ed and Blanche Greene Jones. June worked as a CNA, and was a school bus driver. She was a former member of the Cove Creek Volunteer Fire Department. June was a member at Westside Baptist Church and attended Howard’s Creek Baptist Church.

She is survived by three children; Jamey Yates and wife Amy of Boone, Debbie Yates of the home, and Shellie Dollars and husband Buddy of Sugar Grove, one step son; Adam Pope and wife Crystal of Dry Run, Tennessee, eleven grandchildren; Dustin Parlier, Faith and Calvin Dollars, Zachary Hicks, Carson and Samantha Oxentine, Erica Rattler, Jessica Greene, Deana Isaacs, Cheyenne Pope and Janie Sisk, seven great grandchildren; Montana and Noah Rattler, Nehemiah, Ellianna and Eric Oxentine, Amy Grace and Paysen Greene, and several “special” nieces and nephews, one sister; Ruth Phillips of Millers Creek, one brother; Burl Jones and wife Wanda of Marion, sister-in-law, Bronda Jones and brother-in-law, Kenneth Laws and wife Pat. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her first husband Jim Yates, her second husband Blaine Pope, two sisters; Carolyn Tester and Barbara Laws and one brother; Lawrence Jones, a niece, Annie Johnson and two special friends; Dora Horton and Ray Bentley, the staff at the Cancer Center.

Funeral services for Ms. June Yates Pope will be conducted Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Pastor Harold Danner, Pastor Burl Jones, and Pastor David Ward. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Medi-home Hospice, PO Box 1357, Newland, NC 28657 or to the Seby Jones Cancer Center, PO Box 2570, Boone, NC 28607.

The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon from 4 o’clock until 6 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home. The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to the following for the love and care they gave to June; the medical staff at Seby B. Jones Cancer Center, Medi-home Hospice, Janie Foxx, Charlotte Walls, Ardna Triplett, Helen Hicks, Jeanette Ward, Gerald and Betty Marshall, Janie Hicks and Jane Wilson.

Robert Wolf, D. Aug. 24, 2012Pastor Robert A. Wolf, age 61, of 167 Joe J. Miller Road, Boone, died Friday, August 24, 2012, at his residence.

Robert served his country as a member of the US Marines Corps serving in Vietnam with Hotel 2/7 Unit where he was awarded the Purple Heart. He graduated from the University of Texas in Tyler and taught elementary education for two years in Tyler. Robert continued his education graduating from Reformed Theological Seminary in 1988 with a Masters of Divinity and Masters in Marriage & Family Therapy. For the past 25 years, Robert was a Pastor of several Presbyterian Churches of America and was also on staff at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church as a Marriage and Family Therapist.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Ernest and Ola Dykes Wolf, and one brother, Ammon Lee Wolf. He was also preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Arra A. Dykes, and his aunt, Lois Dykes Easley and uncle, Robert Samuel Easley who all had a profound effect on his life.

Funeral arrangements for Pastor Robert A. Wolf are scheduled for 3:00 PM Tuesday, August 28th at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel; burial with military honors provided by American Legion Post 130 and the Color Guard of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 90 will follow at Mount Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday from 1:00 – 2:45 PM.

Lisa is survived by four sons, Michael Tester of Deep Gap, Allen Tester of Malibu, California, William “Danny” Demster and wife Erin, and Matthew Demster, all of Sugar Grove; her mother, Edna Mains of Todd; two grandsons, Wyatt Demster, and Memphis Demster, both of Sugar Grove; three sisters, Sherry Mains of Boone, Anita Mains of Todd, and Sandy Moretz and husband Tim of Deep Gap, and one brother, Robbie Mains and wife Tammy of Boone. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Boyd Andrew Mains.

A memorial service for Lisa Main will be conducted Sunday afternoon, August 26, 2012, at 2:00 o’clock, at Boone Baptist Church. Officiating will be Reverend Kenny Newberry.

The family will receive friends following the memorial service.

In lie of flowers memorials may be made to Boone Baptist Church, P.O. Box 2058, Boone, NC 28607.

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Lyman Roney, D. Aug. 22, 2012Mr. Lyman Roney, age 91, of Zionville, passed away Wednesday morning at Life Care Center of Banner Elk where he had briefly been receiving rehab therapy. Lyman was born on July 4, 1921 to the late Bryan and Cora Miller Roney of Middleburgh, New York. He grew up and married Olga (Ollie) Zuk in his home town; he served in the Pacific Theatre and was a proud WWII Navy Veteran. He spent his life as a dedicated husband, father and educator. He gave 16 years service to the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk School District before becoming high school principal and serving as acting district principal for the Walton Central School District. He retired from the Walton District where he and Ollie remained until relocating to Crystal Lake, NY in summer and Englewood, FL in winter. Their last years were spent in their North Carolina home in Zionville.

He is survived by two daughters; Sue Buel and husband Ken of Sugar Grove, NC and Lori Roney of Boca Raton, Florida; and one grandson, Jason Buel and wife Sally of Raleigh, NC

A memorial service for Mr. Lyman Roney will be conducted Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Pastor Tom Brown.